The venues, dates and times for the remaining Ulster Senior Football Championship fixtures have been agreed at a meeting of the Ulster CCC on Tuesday evening.

The first Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final between Ard Mhacha and An Cabhán will be played at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Sunday 2nd June. This will be proceeded by the Ulster Camogie Final.

It was also agreed that the second semi-final between the winners of this weekend’s games, between Aontroim and Tír Eoghain and Fear Manach and Dún na nGall, will be hosted at Kingspan Breffni, Cavan. This will be proceeded by the Ulster Senior Ladies semi-final between Dún na nGall and Tír Eoghain.

Also agreed at the meeting were the venues, dates and times of the Electric Ireland Ulster Minor semi-finals. Doire and Tír Eoghain will seek a place in the final at the Athletic Grounds in Friday 21st June at 8pm. At the same time in Brewster Park, Muineachán and Dún na nGall will meet.

Also agreed were the venues, dates and times for the Eirgid Ulster Under 20 Championship. This will commence on Sunday 23rd June at Clones as An Dún and Aontroim clash.

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Sunday 2nd June: Semi Final (4.00pm)

An Cabhán V Ard Mhacha at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones
To be preceded by Ulster Camogie Final (2.00pm)

Ulster GAA has welcomed confirmation that the BBC will broadcast three games from this year’s Ulster Senior Football Championship on FM Radio.

The games are Sunday’s quarter-final clash in Enniskillen between Fermanagh and Donegal, the first semi-final between Armagh and Cavan on 2 June and the Ulster Final on 23 June. As previously announced, there will also be live TV coverage of two of these games, with deferred coverage of the first semi-final.

“Ulster GAA has been engaging with the BBC in relation to their overall Gaelic Games broadcast package and our discussions have included FM Radio coverage. Until now radio coverage of Gaelic Games has been confined to Medium Wave only.

“I welcome this positive development and thank the BBC for taking this step. It is however just the first step on this particular journey and Ulster GAA will continue our dialogue with the BBC with a view to having all BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle Gaelic Games coverage aired on the FM broadcasting band.”

“I congratulate Corin McMonagle winning this prestigious award in recognition for his commitment and contribution to Gaelic Games. There is no doubt he is making a positive impact on the lives of young people in his club and I encourage him and other young people to continue volunteering in sport.”

Translink Assistant Service Delivery Manager Tony McDaid said: “

It’s incredible the effort and impact young people make to their GAA clubs in towns and villages across the province every week. When we think of young people in the GAA we often see them as players but many, like Corin, are contributing so much more and it is inspiring. I warmly congratulate Corin for his hard work and dedication to his club. He is a very worthy winner of this award.”

Slaughtmanus Secretary Shona Watson congratulated Corin saying:

“Corin’s commitment and attitude to his personal training and to the development of our youth teams is exemplary. He is a very well mannered young man, always showing respect to his fellow players and committee.

“He has just completed an 8 week coaching programme in one of our local primary schools having spent 3 hours per week coaching all the children in the school in different time slots. He has also helped run our Primary School indoor Winter Academy in December 2018 and it was from this he found a love for coaching.

“Corin when called upon has coached our newly formed girls U14 and U16 teams as well as assist and coach our U10 and U12 teams over the last 2 months. As a small rural club we are finding it extremely difficult to recruit and retain volunteers/coaches, Corin’s help has shone like a beacon to other young club members who he is encouraging to come along and help.”

The nomination process opens on the 20th of each month and closes on the last day, after which a panel will select the winner. Monthly winners will receive a commemorative certificate and a set of Enterprise tickets, provided by Translink.

Donegal minors advanced to the semi-final of the Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship thanks to a 1-18 to 2-7 victory over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday night.

Johnny McGroody kicked 0-8 in total, 0-4 in either half as he spearheaded the Donegal challenge. He was ably assisted by midfielder Eoin Dowling who added 0-4 and Eric Carr who kicked a brace of points.

There was little to choose between the sides as they approached half time a Cian Farrelly goal helping Cavan stay in touch. However a red card for Peter Smith just before the break gave Donegal a numerical advantage for the whole of the second half.

Donegal made that advantage count and outscored Cavan 1-8 to 1-2 in the second half, Shane Monaghan grabbing the Donegal goal, with Sean McEvoy on target for Cavan.

Cavan advanced to the semi-final of the Ulster Senior Football Championship as they saw off Monaghan in Kingspan Breffni.

In front of a bumper crowd of 13,496 patrons the Breffni men raced into a lead they never relinquished.

Cavan began the livelier of the two sides and took a 1-2 to 0-0 lead thanks in no small part to a Martin Reilly penalty and points from Conor Brady and Niall Murray.

Rory Beggan and Conor McManus responded for Monaghan but it was Cavan who led the break 1-8 to 0-4 with Geroid McKiernan and Conor Madden both on target with two points apiece.

Monaghan launched a stern fightback in the second half with McManus, Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy all on target but Cavan withstood the rally and points from full back Padraig Faulkner and McKiernan helped them over the line.

Ulster GAA and the Irish FA have welcomed confirmation from the Department of Education that they are to receive funding for a new joint programme that will see the two sporting bodies work together again to deliver coaching in schools.

The new initiative – The Sports Programme 2019/20 – will focus on children at Key Stage 2 level and replaces the award-winning Curriculum Sports Programme which ended at the end of 2018.

As part of the Sports Programme 2019/20, Ulster GAA and the Irish FA will deliver classes on fundamentals and movement. The coaching partnership will help develop a life-long love of sport and it is intended that the new programme will have a particular focus on boosting participation among girls. It is also proposed that coaches will deliver workshops aimed at increasing emotional resilience in Primary 7 school children ahead of their move to secondary education.

Michael Boyd, Irish FA Director of Football Development, said: “This is great news and I would like to thank the Department of Education for this funding support in the current climate. We look forward to developing the work-plan with the Department of Education and Ulster GAA, creating a long-term, sustainable programme that benefits the health and well-being of school children right across Northern Ireland.”

“This is a positive development and I commend the Department of Education for developing this initiative at Key Stage 2 level with Ulster GAA and our colleagues in the Irish FA. This programme will bring many benefits to children in their latter primary school years and will incorporate a shared education element involving schools selected by the Education Authority.’’

Ulster GAA will again be teaming up with Translink to provide a free shuttle bus service for supporters to enjoy convenient access to and from the Down v Armagh Ulster Football Championship game at Páirc Esler, Newry on Sunday 19th May.

Double decker buses will operate from Burren GAA Club, going via Warrenpoint and St Paul’s School, Bessbrook, going via Newry Train Station. The shuttle buses will also operate after the match to return patrons to their pick-up point. The return buses for Bessbrook will leave from River Street and the return buses for Burren will leave from Old Warrenpoint Road.

Patrons attending the game should be aware that there will be no parking available in the immediate vicinity of Páirc Esler on the day of the match – this includes Kilmorey Street, Warrenpoint Road, Old Warrenpoint Road or on the dual carriageway.

“We are delighted to link up with Translink again on this shuttle service initiative for this much anticipated Ulster Championship derby game in Newry. There has already been substantial interest in this game and we expect a large attendance on match day. We would encourage our supporters in the area to avail of this service.”

“We are very pleased to be facilitating this shuttle service, which we hope will help ease congestion within Newry City centre and make sure everyone enjoys a stress-free journey to and from Páirc Esler. Ensuring patrons have a safe journey to and from major games like this is a key consideration for both Translink and Ulster GAA. We look forward to welcoming supporters from both teams on board!”

For full ticketing information, including how to buy your match ticket early and save up to 30%, visit ulstergaa.ie/ulsterchampionship2019

Full information on pick up times and points is available at Ulstergaa.ie/shuttlebusservice